Women’s Month is celebrated annually in South Africa throughout August, with National Women’s Day observed as a public holiday on August 9. The month honors the 1956 march where 20,000 women protested apartheid pass laws. It is a time to highlight women’s rights, empowerment, and ongoing gender equality struggles

https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Missions/15556/National-Women-s-Day-in-South-Africa-is-a-powerful-day-for-equal-rights

Historical Significance & The 1956 March

• The Protest: On August 9, 1956, women of all races from across the country converged on the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Led by iconic activists like Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, they delivered petitions with over 100,000 signatures

The Standoff: After delivering the petitions, the women stood outside the Union Buildings in a powerful, silent protest for 30 minutes

The Anthem: Following the silence, they began singing a protest song that gave birth to the famous slogan: “Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo” (Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock

How It’s Celebrated Today
While South Africa does recognize International Women’s Day on March 8th globally, August 9th is deeply woven into the local calendar. During Women’s Month, the South African Government and various organizations host campaigns, workshops, and events that celebrate the social, economic, and political achievements of women

https://www.dsac.gov.za/womens-day

Women to Celebrate: 10 Inspiring South African Women

This month we celebrate the many inspiring South African women and the changes that they have enabled. These ten strong, courageous women are shining beacons; making a difference in their fields and opening up new doors for other women to step through.

https://www.sacap.edu.za/blog/management-leadership/women-to-celebrate-10-inspiring-south-african-women/

12 BIG LESSONS FROM SOME OF SA’S MOST INSPIRING WOMEN

SME South Africa continues to be fortunate enough to bear witness to the impressive efforts of women entrepreneurs who are not only successfully building innovative businesses that employ thousands, but are also leading the way for the future of female entrepreneurship on the African continent.

In 12 captivating quotes from inspirational businesswomen, role models and activists​, we pay tribute to women entrepreneurship, leadership and success.

https://smesouthafrica.co.za/12-lessons-weve-taken-from-some-of-sas-most-inspiring-women-quotes-to-kick-off-womensmonth2018/

Significance

National Women’s Day draws attention to significant issues African women still face, such as parenting, domestic violence, sexual harassment in the workplace, pornography, unequal pay, and schooling for all girls. It can be used as a day to fight for or protest these ideas.^[8] Due to this public holiday, there have been many significant advances. Before 1994, women had low representation in the Parliament, only at 2.7%. Women in the national assembly were at 27.7%. This number has nearly doubled, being at 48% representation throughout the country’s government.^[9] National Women’s Day is based around much of the same principles as International Women’s Day, and strives for much of the same freedoms and rights.

Below are 10 qualities that define mentally strong women. These traits include being self confident, productive, optimistic, a go-getter, a fear-tackler, caring, unafraid to stand up for what one believes in, proud, unbothered by what others say or think, and true to one’s self.

10 Characteristics of Mentally Strong Women

https://discoverymood.com/blog/characteristics-of-mentally-strong-women/#